This page uses Google AMP technology for a faster mobile experience. Essential data is stored on your device to enable page functionality, while optional data collection allows for personalized ads outside the UK. Rejecting data collection prevents personalized ads but not all ads. Consent preferences are saved locally and can be adjusted via the “Ad Choices / Do not sell my info” link in the footer.
Donald Trump’s proposed mass deportation plan, involving the potential use of the U.S. military, has drawn sharp criticism and raised serious concerns. While the Pentagon has dismissed the proposal as unrealistic, Trump and his allies, including former ICE director Thomas Homan, have advocated for military assistance in expelling millions of undocumented immigrants. The plan, potentially costing hundreds of billions of dollars, would represent a radical shift in the role of the military and raise significant legal and logistical hurdles. Experts highlight the immense financial and societal implications of such a massive undertaking.
As of this report, Saudi Arabia has executed 101 foreign nationals in 2024, a drastic increase from the 34 executed annually in 2022 and 2023. This surge, deemed unprecedented by the European-Saudi Organization for Human Rights (ESOHR), surpasses previous records and includes individuals from numerous countries, primarily convicted of drug-related offenses. The increase follows the kingdom’s 2022 lifting of a moratorium on executions for drug crimes. This sharp rise in executions contradicts Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s 2022 statement about limiting capital punishment.
Following President-elect Trump’s victory, Advocates for Trans Equality, Jewish Voice for Peace, and Reproductive Freedom for All have reported increased community outreach and anxiety regarding potential rights rollbacks. These groups, along with other leftist organizers, anticipate heightened challenges in advancing transgender rights, reproductive freedom, and Palestinian liberation under a second Trump administration. Despite fear, these organizations remain resolute in their commitment to advocacy and building collective power to protect hard-won rights and freedoms. They are urging community members to take proactive steps to safeguard their legal protections while preparing for an anticipated escalation in resistance.
Russia’s disinformation campaign in Africa, which involves exploiting local grievances and whitewashing its own history of atrocities, is a key component of its hybrid warfare strategy aimed at expanding its influence and gaining control of the continent’s resources. The Kremlin has a history of human rights abuses in Africa, including the involvement of the Wagner Group in war crimes and crimes against humanity. Despite this, President Putin falsely claims that Russia has never engaged in inhumane acts on the African continent. This disinformation campaign is fueled by a history of colonial practices and is accompanied by the recruitment of African individuals for forced labor and military service.
Colombia’s congress has passed a bill raising the minimum age for marriage to 18, aiming to safeguard the rights and future of minors. This crucial step, which still requires presidential approval, seeks to combat the harmful practice of child marriage, a global issue that disproportionately affects young girls. While child marriage rates have been decreasing globally, they remain a serious concern, especially in Latin America where poverty contributes significantly to the practice. This legislation represents a significant step towards protecting children from the exploitation and deprivation associated with early marriage.
The U.S. Justice Department has released a scathing report detailing unconstitutional conditions at the Fulton County Jail in Georgia, citing rampant violence, excessive force, and unsanitary living conditions. The report highlights the 2022 death of Lashawn Thompson in a bedbug-infested cell as a tragic example of the neglect endured by detainees. The investigation found that detainees are subjected to frequent assaults, including stabbings, and that officers often use excessive force, leaving inmates vulnerable to physical injury and psychological trauma. The report also criticizes the lack of adequate medical and mental health care, and calls for immediate remedial actions, including improved classification systems, enhanced officer training, and significant infrastructure upgrades.
A federal jury has awarded $42 million to three Iraqi men who were tortured at Abu Ghraib prison, holding CACI Premier Technology Inc. accountable for its role in the abuse. The plaintiffs, who endured humiliation, beatings, and psychological torture, alleged that CACI, hired to provide interrogation services at the facility, breached international law by deploying guards who inflicted the abuse. This landmark ruling, the first time survivors of the US government’s “post-9/11 torture regime” testified in court, represents a significant victory for the plaintiffs and serves as a warning to companies that participate in such practices.
Switzerland’s decision to deport a gay Iranian man back to his home country was found to be a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights, specifically Article 3 which prohibits inhuman treatment. The European Court of Human Rights determined that the man’s return would expose him to potential harm from his family, third parties, and even the Iranian state due to his sexual orientation. This decision resulted in Switzerland being ordered to pay the man €7,000 in compensation.
John Q. Hosedrinker